Optimizing data reduction, security and encryption requirements in a network environment

ABSTRACT

A specification of a target network environment including target devices is received. The specification includes an identity of each of the target devices and a compression feature requirement, a deduplication feature requirement, and an encryption feature requirement of the target network environment. A performance parameter corresponding to each of the requirements is computed based on the specification. Possible combinations of the target devices and enabled features in the target devices are determined to meet the specification. Each possible combination is compared to a knowledge base to determine a performance reduction for each of the enabled features based upon the performance parameters. A desired combination of the enabled features is determined from the possible combinations for each target device based upon the comparison. The desired combination includes a combination having a performance reduction that does not exceed a threshold value for data reduction in one or more enabled features.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a method, system, andcomputer program product for optimizing data reduction, security, andencryption requirements in a network environment. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a method, system, and computer programproduct for optimizing data reduction, security and encryptionrequirements in a network environment by determining an optimalcombination of encryption and data reduction techniques to enable on anumber of devices of the network.

BACKGROUND

Data encryption, data deduplication and data compression are featuresthat are often desirable to enable in a number of devices, such asstorage devices and servers, within a network. Encryption is a processof encoding data or other information in such a way as to preventunauthorized access to the data or information. Often, cryptographicmethods are used to encode the data in an unreadable format that is onlyreadable if the correct key is used to decode the encrypted data.

Data deduplication is a process in which the retaining of redundantcopies of repeating data is eliminated in order to reduce storageoverhead. Data deduplication may be used to ensure that only one uniqueinstance of data is retained on storage media or a network. Redundantdata may be replaced with a pointer to the unique copy of the data thatis being stored. For example, in an electronic mail system the same fileattachment may be contained in a number of emails. Rather than storeevery copy of the attachment separately, data duplication may be used tostore only one instance of the attachment with a reference back to thesame stored copy in each of the emails. Data compression is a process ofreducing the size of data so that it may be represented in a manner sothat it consumes less storage space.

Various devices within a computer network may be capable of performingone or more of compression operations, encryption operations, anddeduplication operations on data. However, not all devices within thenetwork may be capable of performing these operations at the same time.In addition, it may be efficient for a particular device to perform theoperations as opposed to another device in the network.

SUMMARY

The illustrative embodiments provide a method, system, and computerprogram product. An embodiment includes a method that includes receivinga specification of a target network environment including a plurality oftarget devices. The specification includes an identity of each of theplurality of target devices and a compression feature requirement, adeduplication feature requirement, and an encryption feature requirementof the target network environment. The method further includescomputing, using a processor and a memory, a performance parametercorresponding to each of the compression feature requirement, thededuplication feature requirement, and the encryption featurerequirement based on the specification of the target networkenvironment. The method further includes determining possiblecombinations of the plurality of target devices and enabled features inthe plurality of target devices to meet the specification. The enabledfeatures including one or more of a compression feature, a deduplicationfeature, and an encryption feature.

In an embodiment, the method further includes comparing each possiblecombination to a knowledge base to determine, for each possiblecombination, a performance reduction for each of the enabled featuresbased upon the performance parameters. The method further includesdetermining a desired combination of the enabled features from thepossible combinations for each target device based upon the comparison.The desired combination of enabled features for each target deviceincludes a combination having a performance reduction that does notexceed a threshold value for data reduction in one or more enabledfeatures.

Another embodiment further includes configuring each of the plurality oftarget devices according to the determined desired combination.

In another embodiment, the desired combination is based upon at leastone of implications of enabling each feature on each combination oftarget devices, dependencies between each of the target devices, anddata reduction threshold values for each feature.

Another embodiment further includes ranking each possible combination byone or more of a data reduction capacity for the possible combination.

Another embodiment includes ranking each possible combination by theperformance hit for each of the enabled features for the possiblecombination.

In another embodiment, the knowledge base includes historicalinformation of a plurality of previously deployed devices of apreviously deployed network environment.

In another embodiment, the historical information includes an identityof the plurality of previously deployed network devices and performancedata related to one or more of a compression feature, deduplicationfeature and encryption feature that are enabled for each previouslydeployed device.

In another embodiment, the historical information includes datareduction threshold values for each of the deployed devices.

An embodiment includes a computer usable program product comprising oneor more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructionsstored on at least one of the one or more storage devices. The storedprogram instructions include program instructions to receive aspecification of a target network environment including a plurality oftarget devices. The specification includes an identity of each of theplurality of target devices and a compression feature requirement, adeduplication feature requirement, and an encryption feature requirementof the target network environment. The stored program instructionsfurther include program instructions to compute, using a processor and amemory, a performance parameter corresponding to each of the compressionfeature requirement, the deduplication feature requirement, and theencryption feature requirement based on the specification of the targetnetwork environment. The stored program instructions further includeprogram instructions to determine possible combinations of the pluralityof target devices and enabled features in the plurality of targetdevices to meet the specification. The enabled features include one ormore of a compression feature, a deduplication feature, and anencryption feature.

In an embodiment, the stored program instructions further includeprogram instructions to compare each possible combination to a knowledgebase to determine, for each possible combination, a performancereduction for each of the enabled features based upon the performanceparameters. The stored program instructions further include programinstructions to determine a desired combination of the enabled featuresfrom the possible combinations for each target device based upon thecomparison. The desired combination of enabled features for each targetdevice includes a combination having a performance reduction that doesnot exceed a threshold value for data reduction in one or more enabledfeatures.

In an embodiment, the computer usable code is stored in a computerreadable storage device in a data processing system, and the computerusable code is transferred over a network from a remote data processingsystem.

In another embodiment, the computer usable code is stored in a computerreadable storage device in a server data processing system, and thecomputer usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote dataprocessing system for use in a computer readable storage deviceassociated with the remote data processing system.

An embodiment includes computer system comprising one or moreprocessors, one or more computer-readable memories, and one or morecomputer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on atleast one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at leastone of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or morememories. The stored program instructions include program instructionsto receive a specification of a target network environment including aplurality of target devices, the specification including an identity ofeach of the plurality of target devices and a compression featurerequirement, a deduplication feature requirement, and an encryptionfeature requirement of the target network environment. The storedprogram instructions further include program instructions to compute,using a processor and a memory, a performance parameter corresponding toeach of the compression feature requirement, the deduplication featurerequirement, and the encryption feature requirement based on thespecification of the target network environment.

In an embodiment, the stored program instructions further includeprogram instructions to determine possible combinations of the pluralityof target devices and enabled features in the plurality of targetdevices to meet the specification. The enabled features include one ormore of a compression feature, a deduplication feature, and anencryption feature. The stored program instructions further includeprogram instructions to compare each possible combination to a knowledgebase to determine, for each possible combination, a performancereduction for each of the enabled features based upon the performanceparameters. The stored program instructions further include programinstructions to determine a desired combination of the enabled featuresfrom the possible combinations for each target device based upon thecomparison. The desired combination of enabled features for each targetdevice includes a combination having a performance reduction that doesnot exceed a threshold value for data reduction in one or more enabledfeatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a network of data processing systemsin which illustrative embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in whichillustrative embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of a network for optimizing datareduction, security, and encryption requirements in which illustrativeembodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 4 depicts example network infrastructure level architecture inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment; and

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an example process for optimizing datareduction, security, and encryption requirements in a networkenvironment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrative embodiments described herein generally relate tooptimizing data reduction, security and encryption requirements in anetwork environment by determining an optimal combination of encryptionand data reduction techniques to enable on a number of devices of thenetwork. One or more embodiments provide for identifying encryption anddata reduction requirements within a network environment, comparing therequirements with historical data from a database in which thehistorical data includes data related to the historical performance ofeach of a plurality of devices when one or more of data compressionfeatures, data deduplication features, and data encryption features areenabled on each device. In one or more embodiments, the comparison isused to determine an optimal combination of the features that should beenabled on the devices to determine the most efficient usage of storageand network performance will still meeting security requirements.

In current conventional systems encryption, deduplication, andcompression features cannot be enabled on all components of a networkinfrastructure at the same time without resulting in inefficient usageof storage and performance resources. The usage of one feature impactsother features and certain dependencies must be taken into account whendefining where each feature will be enabled on each device. Currently,different levels of the network infrastructure may support differentfeatures. For example, at a server/application level only compressionfeatures and encryption features may be supported. At a storage systemslevel, compression features, encryption features and deduplicationfeatures may be supported. At a virtual tape libraries level, encryptionfeatures and deduplication features may be supported. At a physical tapelevel, compression features and encryption features may be supported. Ata backup software level, compression features, encryption features, anddeduplication features may be supported. At a network level, compressionfeatures, encryption features, and deduplication features may besupported. Even if encryption features, deduplication features, andcompression features are available on all components of the networkinfrastructure, performing such operations at each level, or at multiplelevels is duplicative, computationally expensive, or both. Thereforeoptimizing data reduction techniques while still meeting securityrequirements such as encryption is needed.

One or more embodiments provide a technique for efficient application ofencryption and data reduction features to the availabledevices/components in a network. To efficiently apply the compression,encryption, data reduction features, or some combination thereof, atleast one embodiment takes into consideration the availabledevices/components in a network, the available features of each device,and performance parameters related to each available feature for adevice/component. In particular embodiments, the performance data for aparticular device includes one or more of deduplication rates,compression rates, encryption overhead, server/application data type,amount of data, backup retention, bandwidth between network locations,etc.

In one or more embodiments, the algorithm defines which performanceparameters are to be compared based on a target architecture componentsand requirements, and determine a combination of features to be enabledon each component to optimize storage utilization and satisfy encryptionrequirements.

In one embodiment, historical information is gathered from one or morepreviously deployed network environments to build a knowledge base. Inone or more embodiments, the historical information includes anidentification of components/devices of the deployed network environmentsuch as storage systems, servers, backup servers, virtual tapelibraries, physical tape libraries, network devices, and backup softwarecomponents. In the embodiment, the historical information furtherincludes relationship between components of the network architecture.For example, if a Device x is used as a backup repository of a System Y,this relationship is contained within the historical information. In theembodiment, the historical information still further includesinformation identifying for one or more the deployed devices of thedeployed network environment whether each of the data reduction features(i.e., compression and deduplication) and encryption features areenabled for the particular device. In a particular embodiment, thehistorical information includes a matrix or table including deviceidentifiers of deployed devices and associated enabled features.

In one or more embodiments, the historical information still furtherincludes performance data related to one or more of the compressionfeatures, deduplication features and encryption features that areenabled for each deployed device. The performance data may includededuplication rates achieved for the specific configuration/environment,compression rates achieved on the specific configuration/environment,encryption overhead, server/application data type capability, the amountof data stored on a device, backup retention data for a device, andavailable bandwidth between deployed devices in the deployed networkenvironment.

In particular embodiments, one or more threshold values for datareduction (i.e., compression and deduplication) are identified for eachof the deployed devices. In one embodiment, the threshold values areidentified by a user. In another embodiment, the threshold values aredetermined by a software application residing on a server. In particularembodiments, the thresholds for data reduction are based upon publishedbest practices or other documentation. In one example, a specific devicemay have a best practice of not compressing data if the compressionsavings are not higher than 45%. In at least one embodiment, thethreshold values consider the features to be enabled on each device.

An application implementing an embodiment described herein resides onthe server and identifies performance implications and dependencies ofapplying each of the compression features, deduplication features andencryption features on each deployed device within the network. Invarious embodiments, if a certain feature is enabled on a particulardevice it will impact the efficiency of another feature on anotherdevice in the network. Accordingly, the application utilizes theimplications in determining whether particular features are to beenabled on a particular device.

An application implementing another embodiment receives specificationsof a target network environment including a plurality of target devicesand the compression, deduplication, and encryption feature requirementsassociated with one or more of the target devices. The applicationdetermines the target devices present in the target network environmentand the compression, deduplication, and encryption feature requirementsfor a target device.

In at least one embodiment, the application determines which performanceparameters are to be compared to the knowledge base based on a type ofsolution to be provided by the target network environment and itsrequirements. For example, if the target network environment is toprovide only a storage solution, then deduplication performanceparameters may not be selected and some implications between devices maynot be applicable. After defining which performance parameters from thetarget network environment are to be compared to the knowledge base, theapplication gathers the historical information from the knowledge basefor the target devices within the target network environment such asrates and implications applicable to them. In one or more embodiments,the application gathers threshold values applicable to the targetdevices from the knowledge base.

In one embodiment, the application builds a table for the target devicesincluding compression rates, deduplication rates, dependencies betweendevices, threshold values, and system requirements. In at least oneembodiment, the application prepares rates, thresholds, and implicationsfor the target devices. In one or more embodiments, the applicationgenerates possible combinations of features enabled per device in whicheach combination is provided with a weight based on rates, thresholds,and dependencies. In particular embodiments, the application ranks thecombinations by their data reduction capability. In one or moreembodiments, the application determines an optimal combination ofenabled features per device taking into account the network architectureand the connections and dependencies between components/devices. In atleast one embodiment, the application configures one or more of thetarget components/devices according to the determined optimalcombination of enabled features per target device.

The illustrative embodiments are described with respect to certain typesof data reduction and encryption processes, network devices,transmissions, validations, responses, measurements, devices, dataprocessing systems, environments, components, and applications only asexamples. Any specific manifestations of these and other similarartifacts are not intended to be limiting to the invention. Any suitablemanifestation of these and other similar artifacts can be selectedwithin the scope of the illustrative embodiments.

Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments may be implemented withrespect to any type of data, data source, or access to a data sourceover a data network. Any type of data storage device may provide thedata to an embodiment of the invention, either locally at a dataprocessing system or over a data network, within the scope of theinvention. Where an embodiment is described using a mobile device, anytype of data storage device suitable for use with the mobile device mayprovide the data to such embodiment, either locally at the mobile deviceor over a data network, within the scope of the illustrativeembodiments.

The illustrative embodiments are described using specific code, designs,architectures, protocols, layouts, schematics, and tools only asexamples and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments.Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments are described in someinstances using particular software, tools, and data processingenvironments only as an example for the clarity of the description. Theillustrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with othercomparable or similarly purposed structures, systems, applications, orarchitectures. For example, other comparable mobile devices, structures,systems, applications, or architectures therefor, may be used inconjunction with such embodiment of the invention within the scope ofthe invention. An illustrative embodiment may be implemented inhardware, software, or a combination thereof.

The examples in this disclosure are used only for the clarity of thedescription and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments.Additional data, operations, actions, tasks, activities, andmanipulations will be conceivable from this disclosure and the same arecontemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.

Any advantages listed herein are only examples and are not intended tobe limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional or differentadvantages may be realized by specific illustrative embodiments.Furthermore, a particular illustrative embodiment may have some, all, ornone of the advantages listed above.

With reference to the figures and in particular with reference to FIGS.1 and 2, these figures are example diagrams of data processingenvironments in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. FIGS.1 and 2 are only examples and are not intended to assert or imply anylimitation with regard to the environments in which differentembodiments may be implemented. A particular implementation may makemany modifications to the depicted environments based on the followingdescription.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a network of data processing systemsin which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processingenvironment 100 is a network of computers in which the illustrativeembodiments may be implemented. Data processing environment 100 includesnetwork 102. Network 102 is the medium used to provide communicationslinks between various devices and computers connected together withindata processing environment 100. Network 102 may include connections,such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.

Clients or servers are only example roles of certain data processingsystems connected to network 102 and are not intended to exclude otherconfigurations or roles for these data processing systems. Server 104and server 106 couple to network 102 along with storage unit 108. In oneor more embodiments, storage 108 may be configured to store historicalperformance data for one or more components/devices within a knowledgebase 109. Software applications may execute on any computer in dataprocessing environment 100. Clients 110, 112, and 114 are also coupledto network 102. A data processing system, such as server 104 or 106, orclient 110, 112, or 114 may contain data and may have softwareapplications or software tools executing thereon.

Only as an example, and without implying any limitation to sucharchitecture, FIG. 1 depicts certain components that are usable in anexample implementation of an embodiment. For example, servers 104 and106, and clients 110, 112, 114, are depicted as servers and clients onlyas example and not to imply a limitation to a client-serverarchitecture. As another example, an embodiment can be distributedacross several data processing systems and a data network as shown,whereas another embodiment can be implemented on a single dataprocessing system within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. Dataprocessing systems 104, 106, 110, 112, and 114 also represent examplenodes in a cluster, partitions, and other configurations suitable forimplementing an embodiment.

Application 105 of server 104 implements an embodiment of an algorithmfor optimizing data reduction, security, and encryption requirements ina network environment as described herein. Application 107 implementsone or more data storage, encryption, deduplication, and/or compressionprocesses as described herein with respect to various embodiments.

Servers 104 and 106, storage unit 108, and clients 110, 112, and 114 maycouple to network 102 using wired connections, wireless communicationprotocols, or other suitable data connectivity. Clients 110, 112, and114 may be, for example, personal computers or network computers.

In the depicted example, server 104 may provide data, such as bootfiles, operating system images, and applications to clients 110, 112,and 114. Clients 110, 112, and 114 may be clients to server 104 in thisexample. Clients 110, 112, 114, or some combination thereof, may includetheir own data, boot files, operating system images, and applications.Data processing environment 100 may include additional servers, clients,and other devices that are not shown.

In the depicted example, data processing environment 100 may be theInternet. Network 102 may represent a collection of networks andgateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) and other protocols to communicate with one another. At theheart of the Internet is a backbone of data communication links betweenmajor nodes or host computers, including thousands of commercial,governmental, educational, and other computer systems that route dataand messages. Of course, data processing environment 100 also may beimplemented as a number of different types of networks, such as forexample, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network(WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example, and not as an architecturallimitation for the different illustrative embodiments.

Among other uses, data processing environment 100 may be used forimplementing a client-server environment in which the illustrativeembodiments may be implemented. A client-server environment enablessoftware applications and data to be distributed across a network suchthat an application functions by using the interactivity between aclient data processing system and a server data processing system. Dataprocessing environment 100 may also employ a service orientedarchitecture where interoperable software components distributed acrossa network may be packaged together as coherent business applications.Data processing environment 100 may also take the form of a cloud, andemploy a cloud computing model of service delivery for enablingconvenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurablecomputing resources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers,processing, memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, andservices) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimalmanagement effort or interaction with a provider of the service.

With reference to FIG. 2, this figure depicts a block diagram of a dataprocessing system in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented.Data processing system 200 is an example of a computer, such as servers104 and 106, or clients 110, 112, and 114 in FIG. 1, or another type ofdevice in which computer usable program code or instructionsimplementing the processes may be located for the illustrativeembodiments.

Data processing system 200 is also representative of a data processingsystem or a configuration therein in which computer usable program codeor instructions implementing the processes of the illustrativeembodiments may be located. Data processing system 200 is described as acomputer only as an example, without being limited thereto.Implementations in the form of other devices may modify data processingsystem 200, such as by adding a touch interface, and even eliminatecertain depicted components from data processing system 200 withoutdeparting from the general description of the operations and functionsof data processing system 200 described herein.

In the depicted example, data processing system 200 employs a hubarchitecture including North Bridge and memory controller hub (NB/MCH)202 and South Bridge and input/output (I/O) controller hub (SB/ICH) 204.Processing unit 206, main memory 208, and graphics processor 210 arecoupled to North Bridge and memory controller hub (NB/MCH) 202.Processing unit 206 may contain one or more processors and may beimplemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems.Processing unit 206 may be a multi-core processor. Graphics processor210 may be coupled to NB/MCH 202 through an accelerated graphics port(AGP) in certain implementations.

In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter 212 is coupledto South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH) 204. Audio adapter 216,keyboard and mouse adapter 220, modem 222, read only memory (ROM) 224,universal serial bus (USB) and other ports 232, and PCl/PCIe devices 234are coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub 204 through bus 238.Hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) 226 and CD-ROM 230 arecoupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub 204 through bus 240.PCl/PCIe devices 234 may include, for example, Ethernet adapters, add-incards, and PC cards for notebook computers. PCI uses a card buscontroller, while PCIe does not. ROM 224 may be, for example, a flashbinary input/output system (BIOS). Hard disk drive 226 and CD-ROM 230may use, for example, an integrated drive electronics (IDE), serialadvanced technology attachment (SATA) interface, or variants such asexternal-SATA (eSATA) and micro-SATA (mSATA). A super I/O (SIO) device236 may be coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH) 204through bus 238.

Memories, such as main memory 208, ROM 224, or flash memory (not shown),are some examples of computer usable storage devices. Hard disk drive orsolid state drive 226, CD-ROM 230, and other similarly usable devicesare some examples of computer usable storage devices including acomputer usable storage medium.

An operating system runs on processing unit 206. The operating systemcoordinates and provides control of various components within dataprocessing system 200 in FIG. 2. The operating system may be acommercially available operating system for any type of computingplatform, including but not limited to server systems, personalcomputers, and mobile devices. An object oriented or other type ofprogramming system may operate in conjunction with the operating systemand provide calls to the operating system from programs or applicationsexecuting on data processing system 200.

Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented programmingsystem, and applications or programs, such as applications 105 and 107in FIG. 1, are located on storage devices, such as in the form of code226A on hard disk drive 226, and may be loaded into at least one of oneor more memories, such as main memory 208, for execution by processingunit 206. The processes of the illustrative embodiments may be performedby processing unit 206 using computer implemented instructions, whichmay be located in a memory, such as, for example, main memory 208, readonly memory 224, or in one or more peripheral devices.

Furthermore, in one case, code 226A may be downloaded over network 201Afrom remote system 201B, where similar code 201C is stored on a storagedevice 201D. In another case, code 226A may be downloaded over network201A to remote system 201B, where downloaded code 201C is stored on astorage device 201D.

The hardware in FIGS. 1-2 may vary depending on the implementation.Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash memory,equivalent non-volatile memory, or optical disk drives and the like, maybe used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIGS.1-2. In addition, the processes of the illustrative embodiments may beapplied to a multiprocessor data processing system.

In some illustrative examples, data processing system 200 may be apersonal digital assistant (PDA), which is generally configured withflash memory to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating systemfiles and/or user-generated data. A bus system may comprise one or morebuses, such as a system bus, an I/O bus, and a PCI bus. Of course, thebus system may be implemented using any type of communications fabric orarchitecture that provides for a transfer of data between differentcomponents or devices attached to the fabric or architecture.

A communications unit may include one or more devices used to transmitand receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. A memory may be,for example, main memory 208 or a cache, such as the cache found inNorth Bridge and memory controller hub 202. A processing unit mayinclude one or more processors or CPUs.

The depicted examples in FIGS. 1-2 and above-described examples are notmeant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processingsystem 200 also may be a tablet computer, laptop computer, or telephonedevice in addition to taking the form of a mobile or wearable device.

Where a computer or data processing system is described as a virtualmachine, a virtual device, or a virtual component, the virtual machine,virtual device, or the virtual component operates in the manner of dataprocessing system 200 using virtualized manifestation of some or allcomponents depicted in data processing system 200. For example, in avirtual machine, virtual device, or virtual component, processing unit206 is manifested as a virtualized instance of all or some number ofhardware processing units 206 available in a host data processingsystem, main memory 208 is manifested as a virtualized instance of allor some portion of main memory 208 that may be available in the hostdata processing system, and disk 226 is manifested as a virtualizedinstance of all or some portion of disk 226 that may be available in thehost data processing system. The host data processing system in suchcases is represented by data processing system 200.

With respect to FIG. 3, this figure depicts a block diagram of a networkfor optimizing data reduction, security, and encryption requirements inwhich illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Network environment300 is a network of computers in which the illustrative embodiments maybe implemented. Network environment 300 includes network 102, server104, application 105, server 106, application 107, storage 108,knowledge base 109, client 110, client 112, and client 114 which arepreviously described with respect to FIG. 1. Network 102 is the mediumused to provide communications links between various devices andcomputers connected together within network environment 300. Application105 of server 104 implements an embodiment of a technique for optimizingdata reduction, security, and encryption requirements in a networkenvironment as described herein. Application 107 implements one or moredata storage, encryption, deduplication, and/or compression processes asdescribed herein with respect to various embodiments.

Network environment 300 further includes storage device 316, virtualtape library 318, and physical tape library 320 all functioning asstorage devices to store data within network environment 300. A virtualtape library is a data storage virtualization technology used typicallyfor backup and recovery purposes. Network environment 300 furtherincludes a backup server 322 including a backup application 323. Backupapplication 323 of backup server 322 is configured to perform one ormore data backup operations to enable backup of data stored in one ormore storage devices within network environment 300. In accordance withvarious embodiments, server 104, server 106, storage device 108, storagedevice 316, virtual tape library 318, and tape library 320 areconfigured to allow enabling of one or more of compression features,deduplication features, and encryption features.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, application 105 isconfigured to gather historic information from one or more deployedenvironments and store the historic information within knowledge base104. In one or more embodiments, application 105 is further configuredto identify threshold values for compression features and deduplicationfeatures. In particular embodiments, the threshold values are determinedbased upon established best practices or other documentation. In atleast one embodiments, application 105 is further configured to identifyimplications and dependencies of applying compression features anddeduplication features on each component/device of one or more networkarchitecture layers.

Table 1 describes an example of historical data within knowledge base109 that includes compression feature performance data.

TABLE 1 Compression Second Component - Compression Reduction/Compression Component Rate Dependency Enabled Storage 10% −5% StorageManager System #1 Server Storage 10% −2% Storage Manager System #2Server Storage 10% −3% Storage Manager Manager Server Client

In Table 1, the Component column identifies a first component/devicewithin the network, and the Compression Rate column indicates acompression rate for the component/device. The SecondComponent—Compression Enabled column identifies a secondcomponent/device having the compression feature enabled. The CompressionHit/Dependency column indicates a performance reduction that will beincurred if compression is also enabled on the second component/devicedue to the dependency between the first component/device and the secondcomponent/device. In the example of Table 1, the smallest performancereduction is obtained by enabling the compression feature on the StorageManager server and Storage System #2.

Table 2 describes an example of historical data within knowledge base109 that includes deduplication feature performance data.

TABLE 2 Deduplication Second Component - Deduplication Reduction/Deduplication Component Rate Dependency Enabled Storage 30% 0% StorageManager System #1 Server Storage 30% 0% Storage Manager System #2 ServerStorage 30% −10%  Storage Manager Manager Server Client

In Table 2, the Component column identifies a first component/devicewithin the network, and the Deduplication Rate column indicates adeduplication rate for the component/device. The SecondComponent—Deduplication Enabled column identifies a secondcomponent/device having the deduplication feature enabled. TheDeduplication Hit/Dependency column indicates a performance reductionthat will be incurred if deduplication is also enabled on the secondcomponent/device due to the dependency between the firstcomponent/device and the second component/device. In the example ofTable 2, the smallest performance reduction is obtained by enabling thededuplication feature on the Storage Manager server and either StorageSystem #1 or Storage System #2.

Table 3 describes an example of historical data within knowledge base109 that includes encryption feature performance data.

TABLE 3 Encryption Second Component - Encryption Reduction/ EncryptionComponent Capable Dependency Enabled Storage Yes 0% Storage ManagerSystem #1 Server Storage Yes 0% Storage Manager System #2 Server StorageYes Not compatible Storage Manager Manager Server Client

In Table 3, the Component column identifies a first component/devicewithin the network, and the Encryption Capable column indicates whetherthe component/device supports the encryption feature. The SecondComponent—Encryption Enabled column identifies a second component/devicehaving the encryption feature enabled. The Encryption Hit/Dependencycolumn indicates a performance reduction that will be incurred ifencryption is also enabled on the second component/device due to thedependency between the first component/device and the secondcomponent/device. In the example of Table 3, the smallest performancehit is obtained by enabling the encryption feature on the StorageManager server and either Storage System #1 or Storage System #2 as theencryption feature is not compatible with a combination of the StorageManager Server and the Storage Manager Client.

In one or more embodiments, application 105 is further configured toreceive a target network environment and/or solution and its associatedrequirements. In a particular embodiment, application 105 definesperformance parameters for a plurality of target devices to be comparedbased on a type of the proposed target network environment and/orproposed solution. In one or more embodiments, application 105 uses analgorithm to compare the defined performance parameters with thehistorical information stored in knowledge base 109 to generate possiblecombinations of features to be enabled for each target device. Inparticular embodiments, the performance parameters may include one ormore of an identity of the target devices, compression rates,deduplication rates, encryption capabilities, dependencies betweendevices, threshold values, and implications for enabled features amongtarget devices.

Table 4 describes an example of a target environment requirement.

TABLE 4 Average Component Encryption Deduplication Compression DataCombination Enabled Enabled Enabled Reduction Storage Storage ManagerManager Server, Server Storage System #1 Storage Storage Storage ManagerManager Manager Server, Server Server Storage System #1 Storage StorageStorage Storage Manager Manager Manager Manager Server, Server ServerServer Storage System #1 Storage Storage Storage Manager Manager ManagerServer, Server Server Storage System #1 Storage Storage Manager System#1 Server, Storage System #1 Storage Storage Storage Manager System #1Manager Server, Server Storage System #1 Storage Storage Storage StorageManager System #1 Manager Manager Server, Server Server Storage System#1 Storage Storage Storage Manager System #1 System #1 Server, StorageSystem #1 Storage Storage Storage Storage Manager System #1 ManagerSystem #1 Server, Server Storage System #1 Storage Storage ManagerManager Server, Server, Storage Storage System #1 System #1 StorageStorage Storage Manager Manager Manager Server, Server, Server StorageStorage System #1 System #1 Storage Storage Storage Storage ManagerManager Manager Manager Server, Server, Server Server Storage StorageSystem #1 System #1 Storage Storage Storage Manager Manager ManagerServer, Server, Server Storage Storage System #1 System #1

In Table 4, the Component Combination column identifies a combination ofcomponents/devices within the target network environment that aredependent upon one another in operation. The Encryption Enabled columnidentifies any components/devices for which encryption is enabled. TheDeduplication Enabled column identifies any components/devices for whichdeduplication is enabled. The Compression Enabled column identifies anycomponents/devices for which compression is enabled. The average datareduction column indicates the expected data reduction from use of oneor more of the deduplication feature and compression feature in theindicated component/device combination that is determined by anembodiment.

Application 105 is further configured to rank the combination by theirrespective data reduction capabilities and generate a final resultincluding an optimal combination of enabled features per device.Application is further configured to configures one or more of thedevices according to the determined optimal combination of enabledfeatures per device.

Among other uses, network environment 300 may be used for implementing aclient-server environment in which the illustrative embodiments may beimplemented. A client-server environment enables software applicationsand data to be distributed across a network such that an applicationfunctions by using the interactivity between a client data processingsystem and a server data processing system. Network environment 300 mayalso employ a service oriented architecture where interoperable softwarecomponents distributed across a network may be packaged together ascoherent business applications. Network environment 300 may also takethe form of a cloud, and employ a cloud computing model of servicedelivery for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a sharedpool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, networkbandwidth, servers, processing, memory, storage, applications, virtualmachines, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and releasedwith minimal management effort or interaction with a provider of theservice.

With respect to FIG. 4, this figures depicts example networkinfrastructure level architecture 400 in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment. The architecture 400 includes a server/application level402, a storage systems level 404, virtual tape libraries level 406, aphysical tape libraries level 408, a backup software level 410, andnetwork level 412. Server/application level 402 includes servers andapplications which are capable of enabling one or more of compression,deduplication, and encryption features on data processed by the serveror application. Storage systems level 404 includes storage systems andstorage devices which are capable of enabling one or more ofcompression, deduplication, and encryption features on data stored bythe storage system or storage device.

Virtual tape libraries level 406 includes one or more virtual tapelibraries embodied in virtualized data storage utilizing one or morestorage devices which are capable of enabling one or more ofcompression, deduplication, and encryption features on data stored bythe virtual tape libraries. Physical tape libraries level 408 includesone or more physical tape drives which are capable of enabling one ormore of compression, deduplication, and encryption features on datastored by the physical tape drives.

Backup software level 410 includes one or more backup softwareapplications configured to backup data stored on one or more storagedevices to one or more other storage devices. In particular embodiments,the backup software applications may be configured to backup data storedby or associated with clients 110, 112, 114. The one or more backupsoftware applications are capable of enabling one or more ofcompression, deduplication, and encryption features on data stored bythe backup software application. Network level 412 includes networklayer components and/or devices that are capable of enabling one or moreof compression, deduplication, and encryption features on datatransmitted or received by the component and/or device.

With reference to FIG. 5, this figure depicts a flowchart of an exampleprocess for optimizing data reduction, security, and encryptionrequirements in a network environment in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment. In one or more embodiments, process 500 can be implementedin application 105.

In block 502, application 105 receives historical information for aplurality of deployed devices from one or more deployed networkenvironments. In one or more embodiments, the historical informationincludes an identification of the deployed components/devices of thedeployed network environment such as storage systems, servers, backupservers, virtual tape libraries, physical tape libraries, networkdevices, and backup software components.

In block 504, application 105 determines one or more threshold valuesfor data reduction (i.e., compression and deduplication) for each of thedeployed devices. In one embodiment, the threshold values are identifiedby a user. In another embodiment, the threshold values are determined byapplication 105 residing on server 104. In other embodiments, thethreshold values for data reduction are based upon best practices orother documentation.

In block 506, application 105 identifies performance implications anddependencies of enabling each feature (e.g., a compression feature, adeduplication feature, and an encryption feature) on each of thedeployed devices. In various embodiments, if a certain feature isenabled on a particular deployed device, such enablement may impact theefficiency of another feature on another deployed device in the deployednetwork.

In at least one embodiment, the historical information further includesrelationship between deployed devices of the deployed networkarchitecture. For example, if a Device x is used as a backup repositoryof a System Y, this relationship is contained within the historicalinformation. In at least one embodiment, the historical informationstill further includes information identifying for one or more thedeployed devices of the deployed network environment whether each of thedata reduction features (i.e., compression and deduplication) andencryption features are enabled for the particular device. In aparticular embodiment, the historical information includes a matrix ortable including device identifiers of deployed devices and associatedenabled features.

In at least one embodiment, the historical information still furtherincludes performance data related to one or more of the compressionfeatures, deduplication features and encryption features that areenabled for each deployed device. The performance data may includededuplication rates achieved for the specific configuration/environment,compression rates achieved on the specific configuration/environment,encryption overhead, server/application data type capability, the amountof data stored on a device, backup retention data for a device, andavailable bandwidth between deployed devices in the deployed networkenvironment.

In block 508, application 105 stores the historical information inknowledge base 109 of storage device 108. In one or more embodiments,the historical information includes the identification of the deployeddevices, the data reduction threshold values, data indicative of thedependencies between the deployed devices, performance implications ofenabling each feature (e.g., compression features, deduplicationfeatures, and performance features) on the deployed devices, andperformance data related to enabling one or more of the features on eachof the deployed devices.

In block 510, application 105 receives specifications of a targetnetwork environment including a plurality of target devices. Thespecifications includes an identity of each of the plurality of targetdevices and compression feature, deduplication feature, and encryptionfeature requirements of the target network environment.

In block 512, application 105 determines which performance parametersare to be compared to the knowledge base based on the specifications ofthe target network environment such as a type of solution to be providedby the target network environment and its requirements. For example, ifthe target network environment is to provide only a storage solution,then deduplication performance parameters may not be selected and someimplications between devices may not be applicable.

In block 514, application 105 determines one or more possiblecombinations of target devices to meet the specification of the targetnetwork environment. In a particular embodiment, application 105 buildsa table for the target devices including compression rates,deduplication rates, dependencies between devices, threshold values, andsystem requirements.

In block 516, application 105 compares each combination to thehistorical information in knowledge base 109 to determine theperformance reduction or change that will be incurred for enabling eachfeature for each device. In particular embodiments, the performance hitmay include one or more of a reduction in storage capacity, reduction incompression ratio, reduction in deduplication ratio, reduction innetwork bandwidth, or reduction in other network resources.

In block 518, application 105 ranks each combination by data reductioncapacity and/or the particular performance hit for the combination. Inblock 520, application 105 determines an optimal or other desiredcombination of enabled features for each target device from the rankedcombinations. In particular embodiments, an optimal and/or desiredcombination of enabled features for each target device includes acombination having performance reductions that do not exceed thresholdvalues for data reduction in one or more features while still meetingthe requirements of the specification. In block 522, application 105configures each of the target devices according to the determinedoptimal and/or combination of enabled features for each target device.In one or more embodiments, application 105 may not itself configure thetarget devices but may instead generate an instruction to configure,cause such an instruction to be generated, become the basis for thegeneration of the instruction, or cause the configuration to occur as aresult of 520. Process 500 is ended thereafter.

Thus, a computer implemented method, system or apparatus, and computerprogram product are provided in the illustrative embodiments foroptimizing data reduction, security, and encryption requirements in anetwork environment and other related features, functions, oroperations. Where an embodiment or a portion thereof is described withrespect to a type of device, the computer implemented method, system orapparatus, the computer program product, or a portion thereof, areadapted or configured for use with a suitable and comparablemanifestation of that type of device.

Where an embodiment is described as implemented in an application, thedelivery of the application in a Software as a Service (SaaS) model iscontemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. In a SaaSmodel, the capability of the application implementing an embodiment isprovided to a user by executing the application in a cloudinfrastructure. The user can access the application using a variety ofclient devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser(e.g., web-based e-mail), or other light-weight client-applications. Theuser does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructureincluding the network, servers, operating systems, or the storage of thecloud infrastructure. In some cases, the user may not even manage orcontrol the capabilities of the SaaS application. In some other cases,the SaaS implementation of the application may permit a possibleexception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a specification ofa target network environment including a plurality of target devices,the specification including an identity of each of the plurality oftarget devices and a compression feature requirement, a deduplicationfeature requirement, and an encryption feature requirement of the targetnetwork environment; computing, using a processor and a memory, aperformance parameter corresponding to each of the compression featurerequirement, the deduplication feature requirement, and the encryptionfeature requirement based on the specification of the target networkenvironment; determining possible combinations of the plurality oftarget devices and enabled features in the plurality of target devicesto meet the specification, the enabled features including one or more ofa compression feature, a deduplication feature, and an encryptionfeature; comparing each possible combination to a knowledge base todetermine, for each possible combination, a performance reduction foreach of the enabled features based upon the performance parameters;determining a desired combination of the enabled features from thepossible combinations for each target device based upon the comparison,wherein the desired combination of enabled features for each targetdevice includes a combination having a performance reduction that doesnot exceed a threshold value for data reduction in one or more enabledfeatures; and configuring each of the plurality of target devicesaccording to the determined desired combination.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the desired combination is based upon at least one ofimplications of enabling each feature on each combination of targetdevices, dependencies between each of the target devices, and datareduction threshold values for each feature.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising: ranking each possible combination by one or more ofa data reduction capacity for the possible combination.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: ranking each possible combination by theperformance hit for each of the enabled features for the possiblecombination.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the knowledge baseincludes historical information of a plurality of previously deployeddevices of a previously deployed network environment.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the historical information includes an identity of theplurality of previously deployed network devices and performance datarelated to one or more of a compression feature, deduplication featureand encryption feature that are enabled for each previously deployeddevice.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the historical informationincludes data reduction threshold values for each of the deployeddevices.
 8. A computer usable program product comprising one or morecomputer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on atleast one of the one or more storage devices, the stored programinstructions comprising: program instructions to receive a specificationof a target network environment including a plurality of target devices,the specification including an identity of each of the plurality oftarget devices and a compression feature requirement, a deduplicationfeature requirement, and an encryption feature requirement of the targetnetwork environment; program instructions to compute, using a processorand a memory, a performance parameter corresponding to each of thecompression feature requirement, the deduplication feature requirement,and the encryption feature requirement based on the specification of thetarget network environment; program instructions to determine possiblecombinations of the plurality of target devices and enabled features inthe plurality of target devices to meet the specification, the enabledfeatures including one or more of a compression feature, a deduplicationfeature, and an encryption feature; program instructions to compare eachpossible combination to a knowledge base to determine, for each possiblecombination, a performance reduction for each of the enabled featuresbased upon the performance parameters; program instructions to determinea desired combination of the enabled features from the possiblecombinations for each target device based upon the comparison, whereinthe desired combination of enabled features for each target deviceincludes a combination having a performance reduction that does notexceed a threshold value for data reduction in one or more enabledfeatures; and program instructions to configure each of the plurality oftarget devices according to the determined desired combination.
 9. Thecomputer usable program product of claim 8, wherein the desiredcombination is based upon at least one of implications of enabling eachfeature on each combination of target devices, dependencies between eachof the target devices, and data reduction threshold values for eachfeature.
 10. The computer usable program product of claim 8, furthercomprising: program instructions to rank each possible combination byone or more of a data reduction capacity for the possible combination.11. The computer usable program product of claim 8, further comprising:program instructions to rank each possible combination by theperformance hit for each of the enabled features for the possiblecombination.
 12. The computer usable program product of claim 8, whereinthe knowledge base includes historical information of a plurality ofpreviously deployed devices of a previously deployed networkenvironment.
 13. The computer usable program product of claim 12,wherein the historical information includes an identity of the pluralityof previously deployed network devices and performance data related toone or more of a compression feature, deduplication feature andencryption feature that are enabled for each previously deployed device.14. The computer usable program product of claim 13, wherein thehistorical information includes data reduction threshold values for eachof the deployed devices.
 15. The computer usable program product ofclaim 8, wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computerreadable storage device in a data processing system, and wherein thecomputer usable code is transferred over a network from a remote dataprocessing system.
 16. The computer usable program product of claim 8,wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readablestorage device in a server data processing system, and wherein thecomputer usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote dataprocessing system for use in a computer readable storage deviceassociated with the remote data processing system.
 17. A computer systemcomprising one or more processors, one or more computer-readablememories, and one or more computer-readable storage devices, and programinstructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devicesfor execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at leastone of the one or more memories, the stored program instructionscomprising: program instructions to receive a specification of a targetnetwork environment including a plurality of target devices, thespecification including an identity of each of the plurality of targetdevices and a compression feature requirement, a deduplication featurerequirement, and an encryption feature requirement of the target networkenvironment; program instructions to compute, using a processor and amemory, a performance parameter corresponding to each of the compressionfeature requirement, the deduplication feature requirement, and theencryption feature requirement based on the specification of the targetnetwork environment; program instructions to determine possiblecombinations of the plurality of target devices and enabled features inthe plurality of target devices to meet the specification, the enabledfeatures including one or more of a compression feature, a deduplicationfeature, and an encryption feature; program instructions to compare eachpossible combination to a knowledge base to determine, for each possiblecombination, a performance reduction for each of the enabled featuresbased upon the performance parameters; program instructions to determinea desired combination of the enabled features from the possiblecombinations for each target device based upon the comparison, whereinthe desired combination of enabled features for each target deviceincludes a combination having a performance reduction that does notexceed a threshold value for data reduction in one or more enabledfeatures; and program instructions to configure each of the plurality oftarget devices according to the determined desired combination.
 18. Thecomputer system of claim 17, the stored program instructions furthercomprising: program instructions to rank each possible combination byone or more of a data reduction capacity for the possible combination.19. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising: programinstructions to rank each possible combination by the performance hitfor each of the enabled features for the possible combination.